Silent auction to benefit 5-year-old Greeley girl

Donations in Janie Friessen’s name are being accepted at both Academy Banks, 3103 S. 23rd Ave. and 920 47th Ave., in Greeley.

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Tessa Levario and her 5-year-old daughter Janie Friessen have been fighting for life since before Janie was born.

Janie was supposed to be a twin, but because Levario suffered physical abuse from her ex-husband, she lost the other child and doctors told her there was a high probability Janie would die as well because her kidneys had not fully developed.

But on Dec. 1, 2008, Janie was born with healthy kidneys and a year later Levario, with her five children — looking for a new start — moved to Evans from Seminole, Texas.

Janie began getting constant seizures this past September.

“I took her into the hospital, and they sent us to a specialist where they did a head MRI and a tumor in the back of her head was discovered.” Then doctors decided to do full-body MRI and saw that the tumor was spreading down her spine, all the way to her tailbone, Levario said.

The benign tumor behind Janie’s head doubled in size quickly — now it’s the size of a golf ball — and producing some memory loss and body numbness. Doctors think it will likely keep growing.

Janie’s doctor at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver noticed the quick growth of the tumor and scheduled a surgical removal Thursday. Doctors will work to remove tumor. The surgery is critical. Doctors also plan to remove two and a half vertebras and face having to remove three, which increases the possibility of paralysis. Once the surgery is complete, doctors will determine whether the tumor is cancerous. If it is, they will also treat her with chemoradiation.

“We have been praying a lot and hoping for the best,” said Brenda Goolsby, friend of Levario.

Doctors have given Janie a 40 percent chance of living through the surgery. Still, the family took a leap of faith and have scheduled a silent auction benefit for Janie. It will take place at noon Saturday at Paradise Billiards and Restaurant, 818 31st St., in Evans.

Goolsby, who offered to coordinate and cook for the event, said she has already received a great response. Several local restaurants such as Red Lobster, Old Chicago, and Chili’s Grill and Bar, among others, have given gift certificates, which will be auctioned off at the event.

“Everyone who has offered to help have been so kind to the family,” Goolsby said. “Heather — the manager at Chili’s — made lunch for the family the other day and said that as soon as Janie gets better, they would throw a party.”

All proceeds will go toward financial support for Levario, Janie and her siblings.

Levario works as a cook for Paradise Billiards and Restaurant but has had to stop so she can care for Janie.

“It is hard, you know. Although I am literally unable to work right now, I know bills don’t stop, they are constant,” Levario said.

As for Janie, Levario said she is the most calm of the entire family.

“She is so sweet and always happy. Every time she sees me struggling to control my emotions, she comforts me,” Levario said. “When she was going in to get her shots for her pre-labs, I began to cry for her and she saw me and told me not to cry for she was going to be strong and not cry herself.”